Chief of Staff to VP, HPC Hardware Engineering

Job Title

Chief of Staff to VP, HPC Hardware Engineering

Role Summary

The Chief of Staff is a senior execution-effectiveness and information-flow leader reporting to the VP & Head of Hardware Engineering (HWEN). This role designs and operates the information, governance, and insight systems that enable the VP to run a complex, global hardware organization across sites in the US, Japan, Vietnam, and India.

Primary focus: deliver timely, decision-ready synthesis and execution clarity for leadership rather than administrative support.

Experience Level

Senior — Director or Sr. Director level. Preferred minimum: 10+ years of experience in semiconductors or adjacent deep-tech industries, with exposure to engineering-led, execution-intensive organizations.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities center on creating reliable information flows, operating rhythm, and cross-site integration to improve execution clarity and speed.

• Design and implement a standardized information flow and reporting system across sites and horizontal functions to eliminate fragmented reporting.
• Define templates, metrics, and health indicators for milestones, readiness, risks, quality, dependencies, resourcing, and cost.
• Convert complex execution data into concise, decision-ready insights and recommendations for the VP.
• Own execution governance and operating cadence: leadership reviews, tapeout readiness checkpoints, cross-site syncs, and risk reviews.
• Drive alignment on KPIs and execution metrics across functions and geographies; maintain a single roll-up view of execution health.
• Act as integration point across sites and functions to improve coordination, handoffs, and escalation clarity.
• Track and govern HWEN innovation and improvement initiatives while protecting tapeout-critical execution.
• Prepare executive-ready materials (dashboards, one-pagers, review decks) and advise the VP on top risks and decisions.
• Maintain an organizational pulse on morale, capacity strain, and friction points; raise early signals with context and options.

Requirements

Must-have experience and capabilities for immediate success in the role.

• Proven track record (e.g., Chief of Staff, Engineering Operations, Technical Program Leadership, Business Operations, or Strategy & Operations) supporting senior engineering leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to build information systems, operating mechanisms, and governance that improve execution clarity and decision-making.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills; able to turn complex, messy inputs into clear insights and recommendations.
• Ability to influence without formal authority in a global, matrixed organization.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills; experience preparing executive materials and briefings.
• Experience working across multi-site engineering organizations and with cross-functional stakeholders.

Nice-to-have:

• Familiarity with hardware development and digital design execution through tapeout, including typical risks and readiness gates.
• Experience building dashboards, KPIs, and execution governance frameworks.

Education Requirements

Preferred: MBA or equivalent advanced degree, or equivalent demonstrated experience. No specific undergraduate degree or field-of-study requirement is stated; equivalent practical experience is accepted.

About the Company

Company: Renesas

Headquarters: Hitachinaka, Japan

Renesas is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, providing high-quality products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors. With over 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries, the company focuses on scalable solutions that enhance user experience and drive innovation while committed to sustainability and energy efficiency.